Karma in Mock Printz 2026

Jul 13, 2011 Terri rated it it was amazing

I have read some great multicultural pieces this summer that I can't wait to booktalk in the fall! "Karma," by Cathy Ostlere, is one such novel. The piece takes place in India from late October 1984 through late December 1984 with flashbacks to earlier in the main character's life. If you are familiar with your history, you know that on October 31, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated in her garden by two of her Sykh bodyguards as revenge for the attack on the Sykh's holy "Golden I have read some great multicultural pieces this summer that I can't wait to booktalk in the fall! "Karma," by Cathy Ostlere, is one such novel. The piece takes place in India from late October 1984 through late December 1984 with flashbacks to earlier in the main character's life. If you are familiar with your history, you know that on October 31, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated in her garden by two of her Sykh bodyguards as revenge for the attack on the Sykh's holy "Golden Temple." This in turn led to riots where many (the numbers are disputed) Sykhs were brutally murdered by Hindus to avenge Gandhi's death. By December of that year, Sykhs and Hindu's were denying that anything had happened. As the main character says on page 397, "...we are a nation with a long history and short memories. We are a nation accustomed to pain."

In "Karma," just prior to Gandhi's assassination, fifteen year-old Maya/Jiva has just suffered the tragic loss of her Hindu mother, Matu. Maya, who is half Hindu and half Sikh, was born and raised in Elsinore, Canada. Her parents story is very much a "Romeo and Juliet" story, a recurring theme throughout the novel. Their marriage (of a Hindu to a Sykh) was not approved by either of their families. Thus, after having been born and raised in India, the two sought refuge in Canada where they did not fit in either. Matu's unhappiness grew over the years, and her desire to go home was discouraged by Bapu. With no job, no Indian community members with whom to find friendship, Matu was slowly driven mad. After her death, as "Karma" begins, Bapu and Maya bring Matu's ashes back to India, where Bapu seeks to deal with his guilt and to honor Matu - in ways Maya is not at first aware of. Soon after they arrive in New Dehli, Gandhi is murdered. Bapu, who is easily identifiable as a Sykh, must cut off his hair and give up his turban (which is like betraying his faith and denying everything about himself) in order to survive. When he goes out to find help and doesn't return, Maya is left to fend for herself. She too cuts off her hair and dresses as a boy. She flees to the train staiton, boards a train to an unknown destination, and witnesses brutality that forever changes her life and who she is. As a result of what she sees, she becomes mute and is taken in by the doctor, Parvrati, to whom she is brought after her collapse in a crowd. Parvati sends her to live with her Hindu family (Amma, Barindra, and the seventeen year old son they took in at age six, Sandeep). Parvati makes Sandeep promise to watch over Maya and to get her to talk and reveal her true identity and her story. Thus begins a great adventure, and eventually another "Romeo and Juliet" like relationship.

"Karma" is stunning in its writing. Presented as a 517 page novel-in-verse, it reads very quickly. The story is told in a first person journal format by first Maya and then Sandeep, whose voices are both distinct and memorable. Filled with vivid imagery, Ostlere is able to bring the sights, the smells, the colors, the emotions, and the sounds that surround Maya and Sandeep to life. It is in this way that the reader gets a real sense of the time and the place. For an American teen this is a beautiful introduction to India, and its history and cultures. Fabulous writing! Some reviews that I have read have mentioned that "Karma" could be an awards contender for the 2012 season. I would have to agree.

There is a wealth of thematic material here for thought, discussion, and writing. On page 390-91 Maya says, "Too dark to be Canadian. Too tall for a girl. Too pretty for a boy. I can speak three languages. English. Hindi. Punjabi. (And sometimes French.} But who am I? Always the foreigner. Hiding in her skin." Though Maya is literally a foreigner, most teens can identify with feeling like the foreigner, the odd one, the only one, etc. Another important theme found in "Karma" is that of forgiveness (page 489), "The dead. This is what they try to tell us. Everything can be forgiven. Everyone." On page 491. Maya talks of second chances: "Reincarnation. Another chance. Everyone deserves a second chance, don't you think?" In regards to racism, Bapu says on page 492: "Ignore them...Racism isn't always hatred. Sometimes it's just confusion and fear. It's their own hearts, they're not sure about. Not ours." Other significant themes include: shame, retribution, war, religious fanaticism, the will to live, suffering, suicide, ignorance, not fitting in, love, loss, grief, saying good-bye, hope, tradition, etc. Another interesting discussion would be on why the book is named "Karma."

My only beef about the book is the cover. While it is really beautiful, the bright pink and yellow cover will make it a book primarily for girls - and there is so much here for any teen! Even if I got a teen boy to take a look at the book, through booktalking, it is doubtful that most boys would be willing to carry around this gigantic pink book! So sad...

Otherwise, this is a stunning debut young adult novel by Cathy Ostlere! Highly recommended! ...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Christina Getrost rated it really liked it

Shelves: versenovels, romance, multicultural

Beautifully lyrical story set in 1984, about Maya, the 16 year old daughter of a Sikh father and a Hindu mother who travels to India from Canada with her father, to spread her mother's ashes; but they get caught up in riots and violence against Sikhs in the aftermath of the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi. She witnesses horrible things, and gets separated from her father; the latter half of the book introduces the character of Sandeep, a boy whose family takes Maya in when she's lo ...more

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Apr 26, 2017 Dani rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, family, poetry, love

I'm a sucker for a novel in verse. I'm not sure why really, since I'm not a big poetry fan otherwise, but something about how the story develops with fewer, more carefully chosen words sucks me in every time. That being said, this story had parts that I couldn't put down and parts that I wish the author would have moved on already. It's so many things at once: a story about a family grieving, a story of a forgotten but nevertheless traumatizing historical event, and a love story. It's hard to do ...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Mary rated it liked it

A verse novel set in modern India and Canada, Karma explores the conflict between religion and love. Can people from different religious backgrounds fall in love and be happy.

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Sep 05, 2011 Carrie rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult

While the story is compelling, Ostlere tries to pack too much into this novel in verse that is told through sometimes confusing dual narratives.

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Apr 15, 2011 Julia rated it liked it

Shelves: appropriate-for-high-school, appropriate-for-middle-school, historical-fiction, realistic-fiction, romance-dating, violence, foreign-international, novel-in-verse, 4-2021-06-video

This story is a romance set against a tragedy in the history of India. For readers who like a little melodrama with their romance this will be a perfect fit. It is readable, despite it's length, because it is written in free verse (in diary entries as well). There is lots of drama to be found here. Just be prepared for some gritty wretched violence as well. Particularly worth the reading if you have any interest in the country of India, or just are a fan of all romances. ...more

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